Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has stated that the Kremlin is seeking “ironclad” guarantees to prevent Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as the United States negotiates to end the ongoing conflict between the two countries. According to Reuters, citing Grushko’s comments quoted by Russian newspaper Izvestia, Russia wants Ukraine to remain neutral and for NATO countries to refrain from accepting Ukraine into the alliance as part of the security guarantees. Grushko’s comments did not address the proposed 30-day cease-fire, which Ukraine’s negotiators had accepted with U.S. negotiators. The Russian stance comes as President Vladimir Putin insists on certain conditions before any agreement is reached. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, expects Presidents Trump and Putin to discuss the matter further this week. He described his recent meeting with Putin as “positive” and “solution-based.” Grushko’s statements also emphasized opposition to the deployment of European troops to Ukraine, specifically addressing potential contributions from Britain, France, and Australia to a NATO “peacekeeping” force. Grushko argues that any militarization of Ukraine would draw these contingents into the conflict, suggesting that sustained peace requires Ukraine to be barred from NATO and keeping foreign military contingents out of the country.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-wants-ironclad-guarantee-ukraine-barred-from-nato-official